Palate: Fresh fruit again with a deeper raspberry note, some peach and sweet oak late.

Finish: Clean and lingering, vanilla, some cinnamon late.

Laphroaig Cairdeas Amontillado 2014 nas 51.4% Islay

Nose: Dry with a good peatiness and hints of cinnamon, ginger, lemon zest, and a subtle touch of almonds in the background.

Palate:Thick, peaty, and spicy with touches of brine, wet sand, burned driftwood, and a hint of wet leather.

Finish: Long, briny, and smoky.

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 1 nas 47.1% abv Speyside

Nose: Honeyed, with elegant fruity notes. Oranges, apricot jam, some yellow raisins. A little unripe mango. Soft beeswax. Underneath is a subtle resin note, citrus blossom and old oak. Something vaguely earthy. Gentle but still in line with Tun 1401.

Palate: Orange peel at first, then nutmeg and a clear oaky side. Warming cedar oak and tobacco leaves. Soft pepper, ginger and clove. Just enough grapefruit to make it brighter again, but on the whole it feels a little thin and (bourbonny) oaky.

Finish: Long, with a subtle bitterness of rhubarb and orange peel. Still some wood spices and waxy notes.